Substitute Teacher: "I Was Attacked By A Third-Grader."

As is so often the case, a game of dodgeball erupted in violence at a New Rochelle elementary school on Friday when a substitute teacher got into a fight with a third-grader. The teacher, Daniel Sanabria, claims he was acting in self-defense, but police have charged him with third-degree assault and child endangerment. It seems that the incident was sparked after Sanabria (pictured in his mugshot), who was officiating the game, called the unidentified boy "out," and the child disputed the ruling. Sanabria tells the Post, "He wouldn't sit out when I asked him to."

So the boy's homeroom teacher was summoned to escort him to the principal's office. But police say that as the child was walking away, Sanabria called him a "crybaby." The student turned and tried to punch Sanabria, who then "grabbed the student, pushed him into a wall, threw him to the ground and put him into some sort of arm and headlock and lifted him up off the ground," according to New Rochelle Police Capt. Joseph Schaller. The boy's arm was bruised and he was taken to a local hospital for shortness of breath.

But Sanabria insists the 10-year-old jumped him, telling the Post, "As he was being walked away by his homeroom teacher . . . my back was away from him when he ran up to me; he started punching and kicking me. I turned around, and I warded him off with my hands. I grabbed his foot, secured him and gave him to the teacher in the hallway. I never choked a child. I acted to promote the welfare of both of us. This child needs help, and I don't think he's in a situation where he has the resources to get the help." Sanabria, who says he has scratch marks on his chest that prove his self-defense argument, will appear in court next week.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on June 17, 2009 10:10 AM

Comments [rss]

Snoopy

Back in 1952 I remember a substitute teacher who just didn't have the balls to tell those in the class that they were misbehaving. Meanwhile our regular teacher would have thrown them through or out the window in the middle of winter and would have gladly paid for the replacement glass.

grandeur

I think the mugshot looks like he felt some sort of remorse, and may not be guilty.

Every single substitute teacher I had for every year of school always got abused in some sort of way. Many of the students would see how far they could push it.

One student was successful in making a sub cry and walk out of the classroom forever...

I remember what it was like to be in public school. In this case I believe the teacher. I hope he gets a fair trial.

r1b2

Never touch a student, end of line.

Snoopy

Or you can say you work for the city trying to clear up the goose situation and the kid stepped in front of the goose just when you were doing your job.

This is New York. One must think outside the box.

Snoopy

What if you just shoot them? That way they can never say you laid a hand on them.

r1b2

Never touch a student, end of line.

sharpshoota

11 year ols... typo sorry

Snoopy

Did the kid just have a birthday in the last two hours? He's 10.

sharpshoota

Uh that mugshot says it all, GUILTY! No, seriously though... 1 years old and in 3rd grade? What the dilly yo?

Snoopy

Throw the kid in a trash compactor for a few cycles and see if he listens then.

A 10 year old in third grade means he only flunked sandbox twice. It must have been an attitude problem as I see it. Either that or the dodgeball team tryouts didn't go very well so they red shirted him.

If we check back in five years and he is only in fourth grade then we know we are dealing with a very serious problem with this individual.

schadenfreudian mensch

Makes perfect sense now. You can't restrain a 10yr old when he's hitting you but it's perfectly alright to tase a 72yr old grandma.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/2009/06/tased_and_confused_speeding_texas_granny_subdued_by_taser_shot.html

EricRoberts

10-year-old third grader.

bsalamon

The kid, walking by the sub, punches him. The sub, protecting himself, pushes the kid down and puts him in a half-nelson. And the sub is in trouble? Wow, kids can really get away with whatever they want